The Washington critic., 1887-12-13
EVENING, DECEMBER 1887
A FAMOUS CONTEST.
4 Memorable Debate uctwecn Maynnr,
and Johnson.


Governor Taylor of Tennessee was sit
ting in the Executive Chamber in con-
versation with number of friends.
says the Nashville American, when the
subject Of oatory was incidentally sug-
gestod.
"Do you want TO know whom be-
lcvc to have been one Of the most pow
crful and convincing orators that ever
mounted stump in Tennessee" he
asked.
Everybody was anxious TO know, but
before any reply could be made the
speaker continued: ~ think Horace
Maynard was that man. ] have heard
him often, and more than once have
gone away from his apenlings heart
sore and dcspondcnt. But when hc was
ut the zenith of his power there was one
other in public life in Tennessee worthy
of his steel. This was Andy Johnson.
! shall never forget the triangular fight
that took place in this state between
Maynard, johnson, and General Cheat
liam. 1t was indeed n battle of giants.
| was nothing more than II boy then,
hut watched the progress Of the con-
test with the greatest interest. One of
their debates is fresh in my memory.
IL occurred in little East Tennessee
town. There was Il tremendous crowd
that had come from the farms and the
storchouscs to hear Maynard and John
SON \ majority of those present were
Republicans.
Maynard was the first to speak. /
watched his every movement and heard
az Aaa lao /
began TO take alarm. soon he warmed
mp, and more powerful speech, be-
lieve, never came from mortal lips. As
he arraigned the Democratic party for
high crimes and misdemcanors | felt as
if | myself were on the prisoners
bench. As / listened gradually grew
bluer and blucr, till all at once | recol-
lected myself and found that ] had
shrunk down almost out OF sight in the
seat ] was occupying. | looked about
me and every other Democrat seemed to
be occupying the same position. then
thought of Johnson, who was TO follow,
and wondered what lie could say in re-
ply. l had heard him before, knew
how infinite were his resources and his
power before the people, but it seemed
that 10 mortal man could answer that
wholesale indictment and reiute those
awful charges. When Maynard closed
his speech, Republicans were standing
in their chairs, on benches and tables,
cheering themselves loarse and ap-
plauding their great leader 1t looked
TO me and my partisans us il the Demo-
cratic party could never rally from such
an onslaught.
"All at once, however. 4 new sound
was heard. II was the voice of Andrew
Johnson, the old cX-President. feared
to look at him. Soon, however, he sc-
cured the undivided attention of his
audience, and the magic of his oratory
began TO make itself felt. As he took
up one charge after another and dis
posed of them despondent Democrats
began TO straightcn up in their chairs
and listen to his words. To cut the
story short, 1t was master speech from
the grand old commoner that he never
in his life eclipsed.
'Ile parried the thrusts of his nimble
opponents, and from his own rugged
mind dealt out sledgc-hammer blows
that were all-powerfu. The defense
that he made for the Democratic party
brought tears TO many eyes, and when
his audience had been wrought up to
the highest pitch, he turned upon the
party in power, and staggered Republi.
cans with charges that fell into their
midst like bombshells. Before the
speech was more than half concluded,
every Democrat was standing in his
seat, hat in hand, iubilant, and cheer
ing to the echo every utterance that
came from the lips of Andrew johnson.
Such a victory over such an opponent I
shall never see again, and such elo-
quence from mortal man few ears will
ever hear"